TOURNAMENT RULES - 04/04/2010

The Tournament Director is there to ensure fair play for all players.
The Tournament Directors decision is final. The decision may not follow the rules rigidly but will be made in accordance of what is deemed to be the fairest way of settling any issues arising.

GENERAL RULES

1..Young persons (16 to 18 yrs) can participate provided the venue Licensee is fine with this. However they
must not get involved with any cash staked games. Also if a player is going to be under 18 at the time of
the Regional Final they receive only the basic 50 points regardless of their finishing position.
2. A Player can leave the table at any time, but cards automatically folded, along with blinds if in that position.
3. Balancing Player numbers on each table

When possible each table should have equal player numbers, therefore when moving players from one table to another, it is the player due to be big blind next that is moved. If more than 1 vacant seat, they sit in the 1st seat which is vacant to the left of the big blind. They assume the new position immediately, including dealer & blinds, unless it interferes with the blind positions of the remaining players, in which case they have to wait for the button to pass. If 3 or more players join a table, then deal highest card for dealer position.
4. No Player misses their big blind, the big blind moves clockwise, small blind and dealer button just follow it round. A pLayer cannot be big blind twice in succession (unless moved to a new table, where 3 or more join and cards are dealt for dealer position, and the player is in the big blind position again)

5. Split Pots-If odd chips left over. Players involved will cut the pack for it, or receive a card each, the highest wins.
6. The Dealer offers the pack to the person on their right, to cut the pack before dealing.
7. In Heads up, the dealer is small blind.
8. When the Tournament Director "chips up" any odd number of chips will receive a chip of the higher value. E.g. When the '25' chips are no longer in play, a player with an odd 25,50 or 75 chips will receive one '100' chip in return.
9. Tables to be kept tidy, so disputes can be resolved easily, therefore no splashing of the pot, folded cards go back to the dealer and placed under the dealer button, burnt cards in the middle of the table. To determine dealer button position each player receives a card face up, the highest card is dealer. In the event of a tie for high card, extra cards are dealt.
10. An absent player is always dealt a hand, and will be put up for the blinds.
11. If a big or small blind is already posted at the time of the new blind level, the posted blind stands.
12. English is the only language to be used at the table unless every player and tournament director understand the language spoken - this mainly refers to the Welsh language.

ETIQUETTE & BEHAVIOUR

1. Players who appear intoxicated, or act in a disrupting manner, will not be allowed to play/continue. Players who act abusive, are ejected, banned from a venue for their behavior during a league event, or found to be cheating of any nature will face a lifetime ban from the League.
2. Players may not ask for advice as how to act during a hand. If a player shows one player their cards they must show all players. Only the players are allowed to play their hand. No one else is permitted to play for an absent player.
3. All players are to leave their chips in view to all players. Anyone taking chips away from the table (including during breaks) unless being moved to a new table, will be disqualified.
4. Cards to remain on table at all times
5. Verbal declarations are binding "call & raise" = a call. Players must not declare what has been folded until the hand is complete. "I had those cards, I don't believe it! etc" after the flop etc is infuriating and poor Poker etiquette.

6. Playing out of turn.
a. Fold.
A verbal or physical declaration (throwing cards forward) stands and is poor etiquette. Cards cannot be retrieved, even if the betting round is checked. Repeated folding out of turn may incur a penalty.
b. Check.
If a player checks out of turn, the check stands if there's no betting prior to his turn. If a bet has been placed, he may fold or call but cannot raise.
c. Call.
If a player calls out of turn, his call stands. However if Player 1 bets 200 and Player 4 "calls" out of turn, then Player 3 raises to 600, Player 4 then must either call the 600 bet or fold losing his out of turn call of 200.
d. Bet.
In all cases, a verbal declaration or the act of placing chips forward is a bet. Any bet out of turn stands but does not become active until the play gets to him. If the bet is raised above the out of turn bet, the player may fold (forfeiting chips already bet out of turn), or he may call. He cannot re-raise. If the out of turn bet constitutes an under-raise, it would be deemed a minimum raise and the appropriate chips would have to be placed, or the hand folded, forfeiting any chips already placed.
Example 1. Player 4 bets 300 out of turn. Players 1, 2 & 3 check. Bet now stands at 300.
Example 2. Player 4 bets 300 out of turn. Player 1 bets 600. Player 4 may fold losing his declared 300 or may call 600 but not raise.
Example 3. Player 4 bets 300 out of turn. Player 1 bets 50. Player 3 bets 250. Player 4 bet of 300 is an under-raise. He would have to either fold, forfeiting his 300 chips or increase his declared bet to 500 to make the minimum raise. He cannot raise beyond that.
e. Raise - amount declared.
This would be treated as a declared bet.
f. Raise - amount not stated.
This would be treated as a declared bet equal to the value of a minimum raise of the bet currently in play.
g. In all cases, apart from folding, any action that re-raises the bet after the action has passed the out of turn player, opens up the full betting options.
h. If a player says nothing but throws their cards in, or puts a chip(s) into play, the same rule applies.
7. If a player repeatedly acts out of turn, they will face a 10 minute sit out penalty by the Tournament Director, and small / big blinds will be posted during this period.
8. Showing Cards
a. If a player accidentally exposes their cards - the game continues. It is the player's responsibility to protect their cards at all times.
b. If it is an all in "showdown" situation then players have to turn their cards.
c. If it is not an all in, then players do not have to turn their cards. The showing of your cards is basically to claim the pot.
d. If it comes to a stalemate situation, and no-one will turn their cards, then it is the last aggressor that has to show first, meaning the last person to raise. If there was no bet i.e just a call to the big blind, then the first person after the button shows first. If the following players can not beat his hand they can fold without showing.
e. Showing cards from a live hand during the action injures the rights of other players still competing in an event, who wish to see contestants eliminated. A player may not show any cards. If a player deliberately shows a card (his hand will be ruled dead). Verbally stating one's hand (true hand or bluff) during the play will result in the hand being declared dead.
f. After winning a pot a player may not show just one card. If the player shows one cards then the other must be shown.

BETTING & RAISING

1. When raising a previous bet, it's at least double the biggest bet on the table. 1st person to raise after hole cards have been dealt, has to at least double the big blind. After flop 1st bet to be at least size of big blind
2. When betting/raising players must verbally state the amount of the bet/raise. String betting is not allowed. If a player declares raise and starts string betting, this will be declared a minimum raise. Verbal declarations are binding so if a player states "raise to 600" but only puts 500 chips in to play, he must make this up to 600.
3. A large chip placed into the pot without comment shall be presumed to be a wager for the full amount of the chip, unless a previous player has raised, in this instance it shall be deemed a call.
4. UNDER RAISE - This occurs when a player raises a prior bet but has to go all-in to do so. If the player under-raising - going all-in to raise - has less than half of the expected raise for that betting round, the betting round is locked. The term locked here means that any player who has already acted in the round (checked, called, or raised) may no longer raise. They may only call or fold. However, players who have yet to act (betting has not reached them yet) may raise the expected raise for that betting round. If the under-raise is half or more than the expected raise, the lock rule does not apply.

DEALER ERRORS

1. If the 1st or 2nd hole card dealt is exposed, a misdeal results. The dealer retrieves the cards and reshuffles the pack.
2. If any other hole card is exposed the deal continues. The exposed card cannot be kept. The player involved receives what would have been the 1st burn card; the exposed card is used for the 1st burn card. If more than one hole card is exposed, a misdeal is called.
3. If the dealer mistakenly deals the first player an extra card, after all players have their starting hand, this card is used for the 1st burn card
4. FLOP ERROR - If the flop is turned over before betting is complete then the burn card remains, but the flop is retrieved placed with the remaining cards in the pack and re-shuffled, after all betting is complete, a new flop is dealt without burning a card.
5. FLOP ERROR - If the flop contains too may cards, it must be re-dealt. (This applies even if it is possible to know which card is the extra one).The flop cards are re-shuffled with the remainder of the deck. The burn cards remain on the table. After shuffling, the dealer cuts the deck, and deals a new flop without burning a card.
6. TURN ERROR- If the dealer turns the fourth (turn) card on the board before the betting round is complete, the card which was improperly dealt shall be set aside, and the dealer shall burn and turn so the card that would have been the river becomes the turn card. After the turn betting is completed, the dealer shall then shuffle the improperly dealt card back into the deck, and shall deal a river card without burning. The card that was burned before the improper dealing shall not be included in the shuffle.
7. RIVER ERROR- If the fifth card (river) is turned up prematurely, the turn betting is correctly completed, the dealer shall shuffle the improperly dealt card back into the deck, then turn a new river card without burning.
8. Once action begins a misdeal cannot be called. A Player with the incorrect amount of cards must fold, and lose any chips they have put in the pot.
9. Dead Hands
Your hand is declared dead if:
- You fold or announce a fold when facing a bet or raise.
- You throw you hand in a forward motion causing a player to act behind you (even if not facing a bet).
- The hand does not contain the correct number of cards.
- Cards that come into contact with the muck pile.
However a hand that is clearly identifiable by all players may be retrieved and ruled live by the Tournament Director if doing so is in the best interest of the game. Every effort will be made to rule a hand retrievable if it was folded as a result of incorrect information given to the player.

PLAYERS ARRIVING LATE & LEAVING DURING A GAME

1. If the Tournament Director has been informed, before the start of the Tournament that a player will be late, they will be allocated a seat, with the full starting stack. The blinds will be posted as usual until their arrival. If however, the player has not arrived by the start of the 2nd Blind level then a small blind will be posted every hand.
2. If a player arrives after the Tournament has started without informing the Tournament Director, they will be allowed to play under the following criteria:
If 16 or less players started the tournament - No-one has already been knocked out of tournament.
If 17 or more players - no more than 1 player has already been knocked out.
3. They will also start with the reduced Chip stack in relation to the blinds at the time of their arrival:
Blinds Starting Stack assuming everyone started with 3000 chips
25/50 2400 or 80% of original starting stack amount if more than 3000
50/100 1500 or 50% of original starting stack amount if more than 3000
100/200 1000 or 33% or (too late to start if break is after 2 blind levels)
After this too late to start
4. If a player arrives after the first break has ended, they will not be able to play.

5. a) If a player leaves after the Tournament has started, and advises the Tournament Director (T.D) they will not be returning, the following happens:
The player's remaining chips are automatically taken off the table, and the player will be awarded the appropriate points for their finishing position at that time.
b) If a player leaves after the Tournament has started, and advises the T.D they will be returning the following happens:
The empty position will be dealt cards and post small and big blind as per usual, until they return.
If the player makes it to the final table, they will still receive the appropriate points for their finishing position, however, if they have not returned by the time heads up is reached they will be allocated 50 points, and whoever finished 9th will receive 8th place. 8th place receives 7th and so on as applicable.
6. If a player leaves the Tournament without advising the T.D of their intention, the T.D after 15 minutes, has the discretion to implement Rule 5 as above.
7. The above are Nuts Poker League rulings, as we appreciate that some players due to work or personal matters sometimes cannot make it to a venue for the start time, or may have to leave at some point during the Tournament.